Her ass had fallen to sleep. "Great, just great." Ginnie muttered as she limped her way to the printer. It was one of those giant multi-task jobs. It very handily printed, collated, punched holes and stapled her reports. She would have to remove the staple to put them in the nifty little folder things, but if she dropped any of them, those little staples would save her ass, and had a time or two.
She rubbed her hands over her backside trying to get the feeling back into the muscles she'd been sitting on for the last four hours. The last staple thunked into place and the machine spit it onto the racks that held the thirteen reports. She gathered them, and walked a little more normally back to her computer, but her ass had begun to tingle and it wasn't the nice tingle it was the pins and needles poking through your skin tingle.
"Oh yes, this is magical." That made her giggle, since when agitated her accent was stronger, and she reminded herself of Fat Bastard. Still giggling she began to put a report with each folder. She would remove the staple only when she was ready to close the little loopy things. In all her years of using these folders...no wait...binders, she never did know what the loops in the middle were actually called.
She took up the first one, each were deep red imprinted with the Duibne logo on the front that she would have to cover up when she put her title sheet in the pocket. She flipped through the report checking page numbers to be sure the machine hadn't goofed, and slid the holes over the open loops. She closed them and took up what looked like a little mini spatula and removed the staple by sliding the end under it and pulling up. She liked the spatula better than the toothy-thing, since it tended to rip her papers more than it took out staples.
She had begun to hum, and hummed her way through the other thirteen reports. It had always struck her as funny that so many people needed to know what she was doing. It had always seemed to her, that outside of Ellis, Marthinus, and Purchasing/receiving, no one really did need to know anything that went on in her lab. Then again...she could be wrong.
Working Girl ((lock))
((Follows Over Slept ))
Ginnie zipped her little green beetle into her assigned space at Duibne and pulled her briefcases and two other cases from her back seat. Crisscrossing her briefcase straps on her chest and carrying the munitions cases she made her way to her lab. She had tons of information to input and she needed to retro fit red ink cartridges for Ellis's bomb-gun-tazer-pen-thingy. 'I really need to come up for a name for that.'
She nourished her body with from her small supply in the lab's fridge and started on her first of what would be many cups of coffee. As she pulled out reports from her briefcase and settled at her computer, she hoped desperately for a distraction of some kind.
Ginnie
18 years ago
Ginnie
18 years ago
She put the labeled reports in the intra-office mail box tub thing, and went to her drafting computer. It had one of the worlds for most 3-d imaging programs in it and she used it to create her weapons virtually from the wire frame out.
Ginnie pushed the little silver button, and the thing made a sort of hissing pop at her then just died. "Well, shit." She looked down at her watch. "One A M. Who could I call to come fix this thing at this time of night?" She stood there thinking as she stared at the machine, the weird smell of what she guessed was burning plastic began to waft her way. "Shit. Oh! I know just who to call."
She went back over to her other still working computer and pulled up the vid-com link and asked for Serena.
Ginnie pushed the little silver button, and the thing made a sort of hissing pop at her then just died. "Well, shit." She looked down at her watch. "One A M. Who could I call to come fix this thing at this time of night?" She stood there thinking as she stared at the machine, the weird smell of what she guessed was burning plastic began to waft her way. "Shit. Oh! I know just who to call."
She went back over to her other still working computer and pulled up the vid-com link and asked for Serena.
Serena
18 years ago
The IT department was deserted, most of the overhead lights were off, and just a blueish, flickering glow poured out of the small cubicles to illuminate the area. Tucked away near the center of the partition wall maze, one cubicle was lit by a small desk lamp. Serena was sprawled out in her chair, feet propped up on the desk, her I-pod drowning out the dull roar the cleaning crew's vacuums made. She tossed her stress relief squishy up one handed, watched it thunk against the ceiling tile and push it up a fraction and drop back down. Emitting a loud, face contorting yawn she caught the grenade shaped 'ball'.
God, I hate working nights here. There are sooooo many things I'd rather be doing.. scraping my nails down a chalkboard ranks pretty high at the moment. Muttering out loud to herself, fighting to keep her violet eyes open she glared at the ceiling.
It took a few moments, maybe even a minute, for the blinking window on her screen to register. The little chimes it was emitting were lost in a loud electric guitar solo she was jamming out to but the flash of light on the screen eventually caught the brunette's eye.
Shit! Sitting upright, her feet thumped loudly as they hit the floor. Glaring at the screen, she snarled at it and stuck out her tongue at the interruption. Pulling one ear bud out, she slipped on her headset mic and clicked to open the incoming video call. Face smooth and (she hoped) alertly pleasant, she answered.
IT department. Serena Moreau, how may I help you?
God, I hate working nights here. There are sooooo many things I'd rather be doing.. scraping my nails down a chalkboard ranks pretty high at the moment. Muttering out loud to herself, fighting to keep her violet eyes open she glared at the ceiling.
It took a few moments, maybe even a minute, for the blinking window on her screen to register. The little chimes it was emitting were lost in a loud electric guitar solo she was jamming out to but the flash of light on the screen eventually caught the brunette's eye.
Shit! Sitting upright, her feet thumped loudly as they hit the floor. Glaring at the screen, she snarled at it and stuck out her tongue at the interruption. Pulling one ear bud out, she slipped on her headset mic and clicked to open the incoming video call. Face smooth and (she hoped) alertly pleasant, she answered.
IT department. Serena Moreau, how may I help you?
Ginnie
18 years ago
Ginnie did her best not to laugh, at the obvious annoyed tech. She liked Serena, mostly because she was funny. "Hey it's Ginnie in R&D. My drafting PC died, and not in a good way. It even smells dead. Got a minute to come look?"
She'd made her accent go all sweet and sugary, and batted her lashes a bit, mostly to amuse herself, but she was fairly certain it would irritate the woman on the other end of the com link. If it didn't it still amused her just the same.
She'd made her accent go all sweet and sugary, and batted her lashes a bit, mostly to amuse herself, but she was fairly certain it would irritate the woman on the other end of the com link. If it didn't it still amused her just the same.
Serena
18 years ago
If only it had been a simple password reset, or maybe a printing problem she could have fixed from here. Serena tried not to be annoyed, at least this would keep her awake for the.. good grief, five hours! left on her shift. It could be worse, she mused to herself, for a company of so many 'night owls' it was usually very quiet around here. Mentally deflating a bit, Serena did her best not to groan at having to go trekking down into the bowls of hell itself when she'd much rather be.. anything. 'Uhh.. Ginnie.. Ginnie.. oh yeah! The one with all the cool weapons always around. That's at least some small bonus. Maybe she's got something cool I can study while I work.'
It's dead, OK that's not unusual around here! She grinned at her own joke.I can come take a look, not a problem. But did it do anything specific, make any noises maybe or was it 'dead' when you went to use it?
It's dead, OK that's not unusual around here! She grinned at her own joke.I can come take a look, not a problem. But did it do anything specific, make any noises maybe or was it 'dead' when you went to use it?
Ginnie
18 years ago
Ginnie grinned at her. She knew she would sound foolish, but didn't care.
"Yeah it made a hissing pop noise when I turned it on, then it started to stink."
She rolled her eyes at herself. 'Hissing pop...I even sound stupid to myself. Think she'd get ticked if I started laughing?'
"Yeah it made a hissing pop noise when I turned it on, then it started to stink."
She rolled her eyes at herself. 'Hissing pop...I even sound stupid to myself. Think she'd get ticked if I started laughing?'
Serena
18 years ago
Grinning back at the window on her screen, Serena tried to stay professional. But it was hard, that sentence had so many things she could use... best not to though she cautioned herself. Some people got all bent out of shape when their PCs didn't work. She remembered one woman wailing that all of her work was gone and she would have to redo the whole year's entries. She'd worked herself into hysterics and given Serena a migraine screaming into the phone. Yes, it would be more fun to tease Ginnie in person. She could really get her going then.
I think I know what the problem is, let me grab a toolkit and some parts, and I'll be down in a second.
I think I know what the problem is, let me grab a toolkit and some parts, and I'll be down in a second.
Ginnie
18 years ago
"Thanks Serena." Meegan clicked the disconnect button and went to her work station. It was surrounded by bulletproof glass on three sides, in order to protect the majority of the lab should one of her experiments go boom. She began to pull out tools and other odd looking instruments. She didn't plan to work on any projects tonight, since she had spent four hours on the damn reports. She just needed to check and clean her tools.
Serena
18 years ago
Clicking off the video connection, she switched her status to roaming, clipped on the departmental pager and looked around sighing. So much for a nice quiet night bored to sleep. Standing with a little hop she stretched, bending and twisting to get all of the kinks and stiffness out.
Grabbing her dark denim button up with the Dubine logo embroidered over the breast pocket, she pulled it on to partially cover her black Green Day t-shirt with it's bright red grenade. She wasn't a huge fan of the band but anything with a neon red grenade on it was too cool to pass up. Tucking the shirt into her jeans she nodded, satisfied she was "professional and presentable" enough to go roaming the building.
'Not as if anyone else would see me, but you never know who could be working late nights around this place,' she muttered to herself.
A few minutes later with tool box and parts in hand, she stepped off the elevator and walked up to the door to Ginnie's lab. Tapping on the glass she peered in and tried to catch the scientist's attention.
Grabbing her dark denim button up with the Dubine logo embroidered over the breast pocket, she pulled it on to partially cover her black Green Day t-shirt with it's bright red grenade. She wasn't a huge fan of the band but anything with a neon red grenade on it was too cool to pass up. Tucking the shirt into her jeans she nodded, satisfied she was "professional and presentable" enough to go roaming the building.
'Not as if anyone else would see me, but you never know who could be working late nights around this place,' she muttered to herself.
A few minutes later with tool box and parts in hand, she stepped off the elevator and walked up to the door to Ginnie's lab. Tapping on the glass she peered in and tried to catch the scientist's attention.
Ginnie
18 years ago
Ginnie glanced up at the small tapping sound. She reached around the glass partition and pressed the entry button set into the counter top, and waved Serena in.
"It's the black one over there." She pointed to the offending machine. "Make yourself to home." She shook her head and chuckled at herself and her bad manners.
"I mean, hi Serena. How are you? Thanks for coming down."
"It's the black one over there." She pointed to the offending machine. "Make yourself to home." She shook her head and chuckled at herself and her bad manners.
"I mean, hi Serena. How are you? Thanks for coming down."
Serena
18 years ago
Snickering a bit at Ginnie's focus caused lack of 'manners', Serena just shrugged and smiled at her. Doing OK I guess, for being at work anyways.
Serena made her way carefully across the lab and over to the offending computer, then set down her toolkit and a couple boxes of parts. Squatting down, she leaned over and took a deep sniff. When the acidic twang of burnt plastic waifed up, she scrunched up her nose and made a light coughing noise.
I'd say you burnt it up good, yep. Should be an easy fix though!
Plopping down and pulling her legs up indian style, she quickly unhooked the cables from the back and pulled the box into her lap. As she grabbed a couple of screwdrivers from her kit, she glanced over at the redhead.
I have to admit some jealousy, you get to blow things up and be paid for it. That has to be one of the coolest jobs, ever. So.. you working on anything really interesting?
Hopefully she wasn't asking anything out of line or that would get her chomped and diced by security, but Serena knew she couldn't contain her curiosity forever. And here surrounded by so many toys... it was better to just ask before her curiosity got the better of her and she started getting grabby.
Serena made her way carefully across the lab and over to the offending computer, then set down her toolkit and a couple boxes of parts. Squatting down, she leaned over and took a deep sniff. When the acidic twang of burnt plastic waifed up, she scrunched up her nose and made a light coughing noise.
I'd say you burnt it up good, yep. Should be an easy fix though!
Plopping down and pulling her legs up indian style, she quickly unhooked the cables from the back and pulled the box into her lap. As she grabbed a couple of screwdrivers from her kit, she glanced over at the redhead.
I have to admit some jealousy, you get to blow things up and be paid for it. That has to be one of the coolest jobs, ever. So.. you working on anything really interesting?
Hopefully she wasn't asking anything out of line or that would get her chomped and diced by security, but Serena knew she couldn't contain her curiosity forever. And here surrounded by so many toys... it was better to just ask before her curiosity got the better of her and she started getting grabby.
Ginnie
18 years ago
Ginnie smiled. She loved it when people were interested in her work.
"Well I don't always get to blow things up, but that is the best part."
She picked up a small scalpel looking tool and rubbed it with a thick cloth.
"Right now I'm not working on anything, because my computer blew up. If that hadn't happened, I would be recreating a lovely little pen device. Something very James Bond. It's a tazer and it explodes. Fun stuff."
"Well I don't always get to blow things up, but that is the best part."
She picked up a small scalpel looking tool and rubbed it with a thick cloth.
"Right now I'm not working on anything, because my computer blew up. If that hadn't happened, I would be recreating a lovely little pen device. Something very James Bond. It's a tazer and it explodes. Fun stuff."
Serena
18 years ago
Her 'ooooo' of interest mingled with a grunt as she popped off the PC's outer cover. Glancing over at Ginnie through the lock of raven hair that had a tendency to fall into her face, Serena kept a watchful eye on her as she began to unscrew the suspected problem.
Indeed, very Q of you. Sounds like something I'd put on *my* Christmas list. She chuckled, not sure if the redhead would take her comment seriously, even though it was. But not everyone liked explosives as much as she did, Serena mused.
Pulling out the power switch, she sniffed at it and nodded softly. Holding it up over her head she wiggled it a little as she proclaimed, Here is the problem..! Won't take me long to have you up and running again.
Indeed, very Q of you. Sounds like something I'd put on *my* Christmas list. She chuckled, not sure if the redhead would take her comment seriously, even though it was. But not everyone liked explosives as much as she did, Serena mused.
Pulling out the power switch, she sniffed at it and nodded softly. Holding it up over her head she wiggled it a little as she proclaimed, Here is the problem..! Won't take me long to have you up and running again.
Ginnie
18 years ago
"Me too, Serena. I may have enough by Christmas to give as gifts." She winked at the woman and went back to cleaning her tools.
Ginnie looked up at the thing in Serena's hand and had no idea what it was. She smiled brightly just the same.
"Great! Thank you!"
She set down a small set of pliers and picked up a small smooth cylinder with a stiff, sharp wire hook on the end. It could have belonged in a dentist's office.
"Here is the problem..! Won't take me long to have you up and running again."
Ginnie looked up at the thing in Serena's hand and had no idea what it was. She smiled brightly just the same.
"Great! Thank you!"
She set down a small set of pliers and picked up a small smooth cylinder with a stiff, sharp wire hook on the end. It could have belonged in a dentist's office.
Serena
18 years ago
As she set down the part, she shifted a little and leaned her head side to side, popping her neck. Even with several hours to go, she was tired. Switching back and forth from day to night shifts was catching up with her, she realized.
Grabbing the box with the replacement that she'd brought, she looked over at Ginnie. The teasing she was going to start up died on her lips. Watching as the brunette cleaned her tools, Serena suddenly had a flood of memories come rushing back to her. Her violet eyes clouded with emotion and she stared blankly at the vampire's soft hands.
She could see her mother Carlotta sitting on their ratty old couch in their apartment in Paris, the sunlight streaming in across her. It glinting off of the metal bits in her hands and off of her hair, seemingly surrounding her in a sparkling glow. She could remember watching as Lottie laid out her tools across the coffee table, carefully cleaning them while Serena played video games at first. Then came the giddy happiness she'd felt when she had been allowed to help and Rena started to learn each of their names and uses. After that day it had become a tradition with them, a moment to bond away from all of the crazy talk of vampires and blood that seemed to consume Carlotta's every other thought.
It was only for a moment but it seemed like an eternity until she shook away the images. Turning back to the PC in her lap she blinked away the mist in her eyes. 'Funny what you remember at the oddest times,' she sighed to herself.
Serena pulled open the box she'd been holding, shaking the new power supply out into her hand. While she placed it in and began hooking it up, she looked up at Ginnie again.
So, why did you decide to get into weapons design?
Grabbing the box with the replacement that she'd brought, she looked over at Ginnie. The teasing she was going to start up died on her lips. Watching as the brunette cleaned her tools, Serena suddenly had a flood of memories come rushing back to her. Her violet eyes clouded with emotion and she stared blankly at the vampire's soft hands.
She could see her mother Carlotta sitting on their ratty old couch in their apartment in Paris, the sunlight streaming in across her. It glinting off of the metal bits in her hands and off of her hair, seemingly surrounding her in a sparkling glow. She could remember watching as Lottie laid out her tools across the coffee table, carefully cleaning them while Serena played video games at first. Then came the giddy happiness she'd felt when she had been allowed to help and Rena started to learn each of their names and uses. After that day it had become a tradition with them, a moment to bond away from all of the crazy talk of vampires and blood that seemed to consume Carlotta's every other thought.
It was only for a moment but it seemed like an eternity until she shook away the images. Turning back to the PC in her lap she blinked away the mist in her eyes. 'Funny what you remember at the oddest times,' she sighed to herself.
Serena pulled open the box she'd been holding, shaking the new power supply out into her hand. While she placed it in and began hooking it up, she looked up at Ginnie again.
So, why did you decide to get into weapons design?
Ginnie
18 years ago
Ginnie looked up and smiled at the woman. She had to be careful here. Serena was not a familiar, that she knew of, and Ginnie had not idea just how much of what Serena knew. She decided on the generic answer she gave most humans.
"It sort of choose me really. I had watched and became fascinated by what bombs and other munitions could do during the war." She was careful not to say which war, as Ginnie had seen the two Great Wars, the American occupation in Viet Nam, all the minor skirmishes before the Gulf War, the Gulf War and now this silly cops and robbers game in Iran. Let Serena pick one. "And so I went to school to learn about them, and then I found a home here at Duibne. They are very good about when I blow things up."
She grinned and put a small soldering iron back in it's holder.
"It sort of choose me really. I had watched and became fascinated by what bombs and other munitions could do during the war." She was careful not to say which war, as Ginnie had seen the two Great Wars, the American occupation in Viet Nam, all the minor skirmishes before the Gulf War, the Gulf War and now this silly cops and robbers game in Iran. Let Serena pick one. "And so I went to school to learn about them, and then I found a home here at Duibne. They are very good about when I blow things up."
She grinned and put a small soldering iron back in it's holder.
Serena
18 years ago
Serena listened to Ginnie while quietly screwing in the new part. Mulling over her words, she felt like she could empathize with her. There was something exhilarating about being around a bomb and the adrenaline rush you got handling it. And watching them was certainly something Serena could see being fascinating enough to get someone interested. She just wondered what war it was Ginnie was referring to. It got old, trying to tell who was kindred and who was human.
'The games we play..' she muttered internally. She knew you could never judge people by their work schedules, what with the underground parking and probably, Serena would bet, there were lots of windowless passages and walkways she hadn't seen. And then again here she was, human as can be and working the night shift nowadays.
Smiling a little, she didn't look up when she spoke. Yeah, lots of CNN inspired people after the Gulf War I would bet. Personally I like boom-toys because my mother taught me a little about them.
'I know Dubine must have a detailed file on me, so my Mom's service record certainly isn't a secret. Still, I wonder how much they know about her discharge and her death... I'd better be cautious.' she decided before adding, Mom was an EOD in the army. She was stationed in Germany, but she did some work in the Middle East I think.
((OOC : an explosive ordnance disposal specialist is known in military shorthand as EOD ))
'The games we play..' she muttered internally. She knew you could never judge people by their work schedules, what with the underground parking and probably, Serena would bet, there were lots of windowless passages and walkways she hadn't seen. And then again here she was, human as can be and working the night shift nowadays.
Smiling a little, she didn't look up when she spoke. Yeah, lots of CNN inspired people after the Gulf War I would bet. Personally I like boom-toys because my mother taught me a little about them.
'I know Dubine must have a detailed file on me, so my Mom's service record certainly isn't a secret. Still, I wonder how much they know about her discharge and her death... I'd better be cautious.' she decided before adding, Mom was an EOD in the army. She was stationed in Germany, but she did some work in the Middle East I think.
((OOC : an explosive ordnance disposal specialist is known in military shorthand as EOD ))
Ginnie
18 years ago
'See in in...See in in...What the hell is see in in?' She thought for a moment, as she began to put her things away. 'Oh right that's CNN the news channel.' She did her best not to snicker out loud at her dense moment.
"Germany is a lovely place. I've not seen the military base there. Not that I'm complaining, I'd much rather drive through the Black Forest or drink beer in a BierGarten somewhere."
She came out from behind the partition and went to where Serena was working.
"Is it meatloaf yet?"
"Germany is a lovely place. I've not seen the military base there. Not that I'm complaining, I'd much rather drive through the Black Forest or drink beer in a BierGarten somewhere."
She came out from behind the partition and went to where Serena was working.
"Is it meatloaf yet?"
Serena
18 years ago
"Germany is a lovely place. I've not seen the military base there. Not that I'm complaining, I'd much rather drive through the Black Forest or drink beer in a BierGarten somewhere."
Serena chuckled and nodded. While she had been kind of young when her Mom was discharged, she remembered the German countryside fondly. Most of Europe actually. She'd been sorely disappointed with most of the US that she'd seen, in comparison. It lacked the sense of history and timelessness that seemed to permeate the Old World.
Now that I'm old enough to really enjoy it, I would love to hit a BierGarten. Those Germans really know how to drink. She sighed a bit wistfully. But, to be honest.. I think anywhere would be better than a base. I spent quite a lot of time on them, so I can say that with confidence. She glanced over at Ginnie with a grin.
Turning back to the project occupying her lap, she started connecting cables and doubled checked the connections for the rest of the computer, tightening an errant screw or cable here and there. She reached into her kit and grabbed up a portable vac and cleaned up some accumulated dust before nodding, satisfied with it.
"Is it meatloaf yet?"
Her violet eyes darted over to the woman beside her as she spoke. Shrugging, Rena carefully placed her tools back in the kit and, as she moved the cover out of the way, replied.
Should be good to go, let me reconnect this and we can fire her up to make sure before I close it up.
Serena chuckled and nodded. While she had been kind of young when her Mom was discharged, she remembered the German countryside fondly. Most of Europe actually. She'd been sorely disappointed with most of the US that she'd seen, in comparison. It lacked the sense of history and timelessness that seemed to permeate the Old World.
Now that I'm old enough to really enjoy it, I would love to hit a BierGarten. Those Germans really know how to drink. She sighed a bit wistfully. But, to be honest.. I think anywhere would be better than a base. I spent quite a lot of time on them, so I can say that with confidence. She glanced over at Ginnie with a grin.
Turning back to the project occupying her lap, she started connecting cables and doubled checked the connections for the rest of the computer, tightening an errant screw or cable here and there. She reached into her kit and grabbed up a portable vac and cleaned up some accumulated dust before nodding, satisfied with it.
"Is it meatloaf yet?"
Her violet eyes darted over to the woman beside her as she spoke. Shrugging, Rena carefully placed her tools back in the kit and, as she moved the cover out of the way, replied.
Should be good to go, let me reconnect this and we can fire her up to make sure before I close it up.
Ginnie
18 years ago
"Good deal." Ginnie took her lab coat off and hung it on it's peg by the door. She felt the need to be done with work. She was hungry and itched to get out on the town.
"When your done do you want to head down to the strip with me or do you still have more of your shift to finish?"
"When your done do you want to head down to the strip with me or do you still have more of your shift to finish?"